Coolum brings out strong emotions in Scott Strange who fired a flawless opening 66 to be the clubhouse leader in the Australian PGA Championship on Thursday.

A lot has happened to the West Australian over the past four years which have not only changed his outlook on life but also his priorities, and the connection is strong with the Queensland Sunshine Coast resort which hosting the PGA for the final time.

Strange felt on top of the world after capturing the Welsh Open title in November of 2008.

The breakthrough European Tour victory lifted him into the world’s top 100.

Eleven days later, his world came crashing down after his sister, Natalie, died of cancer aged just 32.

A month later he played the PGA Championship at Coolum and attended a dinner by the resort’s pool where Jimmy Barnes performed one of his classics.

“My sister’s favourite song was Flame Trees,” said Strange, barely holding back the tears after Thursday’s round.

“As soon as he started singing it I had to get up and leave the table because I couldn’t stop the tears.”

Strange finished that tournament in third place behind Geoff Ogilvy.

Memories of his sister came flooding back again the next year when he returned to Coolum and chased home Robert Allenby in the 2009 PGA Championship.

Allenby played his final round that year wearing a pink shirt and dedicated his victory to his mother Sylvia who died from cancer earlier that year.

The loss of his sister and becoming a father for the first time to daughter Meghan have had a profound effect on 35-year-old Strange who admits he battled anger issues and gave his caddie a hard time during a difficult period in his life.

“I lost my sister to cancer a few years ago and I’ve had a few other problems with my mum and dad,” said Strange.

“It took a while to process all that and it’s even harder to deal with with that stuff when you are a long way from home.”

It put a lot of things into perspective for Strange.

“I had a really good caddie and I took it out on him and did stuff you don’t normally do and it just all becomes a blur.”

Strange said his wife Lucinda was expecting their second child in January.

Winning the PGA Championship at Coolum this weekend would be very emotional.

But it’s a win he’d cherish for life.

Once bitten but not twice shy, John Senden is relishing the prospect of a final-round Australian Open duel with English star Justin Rose.

Senden is the Open’s third-round leader for the second year running after a brilliant eagle three on the par-5 11th helped the Queenslander to a two-stroke buffer at seven under par for the championship.

His workmanlike round of 70 at the windswept Lakes layout on Saturday was a far cry from his spectacular course record-equalling 63 on moving day 12 months ago at the same Sydney venue – but still enough to set up a Sunday showdown with Rose (70), the world No.4 and top-ranked player in the field.

“Look, Justin Rose has had a fantastic year this year and is a proven player,” Senden said.

“He’s a tough competitor so I feel like I’m going to enjoy that moment tomorrow.

“That’s why we’re here. That’s what we practise hard for. We want to be in this position to get the experience to know if you’re going to be able to handle it and tomorrow’s going to be a test – it’s a test for every golfer out there.

“But sitting on the lead, to be honest with you, I’ll be anxious teeing off, but then it’s about doing the job.”

Last year, Senden was unable to convert his third-round lead, narrowly missing a snaking, 35-foot birdie putt on the last to fall by a shot to Greg Chalmers.

This year, Senden – after enjoying his most consistent season on the US Tour – is aiming higher and considers his last-group shootout with Rose the ultimate rehearsal for a genuine shot at the majors in 2013.

“This is what we want to get into position for so that leading even into the major championships next year, this is good experience for me,” he said.

Along with Rose, Senden – the 2006 champion – has a swag of players on his tail.

On a high after his success at Qualifying School in the United States last week, Matt Jones (70) also eagled the 11th in an impressive round of 69 to share third place at four under with rookie Kieren Pratt (70) and veteran Peter Senior (69).

Rejuvenated 2001 champion Stuart Appleby (70), Cameron Percy (72) and American Kyle Stanley (70) share sixth spot at three under.

Appleby briefly seized the lead before a back-nine stumble, but was nevertheless chuffed to be in the mix after a dreadful season in America.

“I feel like I’m coming back,” Appleby said. “My game is definitely on the uptake.”

Most of the field went backwards on Saturday, including halfway leader Marcus Fraser, whose 76 left him in a tie for ninth at two under with pre-tournament favourite Adam Scott and seven others.

Scott is five shots adrift of the lead after eking out his second successive 71 and the Australian Masters champion figured he probably needed to fire a 65 on Sunday to lift the Stonehaven Cup for a second time.

Scott Gardiner (68) and teenage amateur Cameron Smith (69) both reeled off four consecutive birdies coming home to be at one under alongside defending champion Chalmers (69).

But American great Tom Watson crashed out of contention after leaking shots everywhere in an ugly six-over 78.

Michael Clarke declared Australia would chase their most unlikely Test victory considering that surprising England in Adelaide 6 many years ago right after he burnt South Africa on an extraordinary day at the Gabba.

Clarke on Monday joined Don Bradman and Ricky Ponting as the only men in background to have passed 200 3 times in the very same yr as he turned the very first Test on its head with an unbeaten 218 which has provided the hosts a 37-run lead heading into the last day.

The Australian skipper enjoyed massive help from below-strain opener Ed Cowan, who solidified his place with a maiden century, and a freewheeling unbeaten 86 by Mike Hussey.

Remarkably, they went to stumps at 4-487 following losing just one particular wicket – the freak run-out of Cowan for 136 – for the day against the world’s finest pace attack.

They were three-40 when Clarke joined Cowan late on Sunday but now the captain is hunting at piling on rapid runs on Tuesday ahead of declaring and applying stress on the tourists’ batsmen on a wearing wicket.

“I undoubtedly consider we can have a crack at winning,” Clarke explained. “I consider the key is tomorrow morning to be nice and positive and see how we go foremost up to lunch and give ourselves a couple of sessions to try out and bowl South Africa out.

“Hopefully the sun’s out and the wicket can deteriorate a tiny bit much more as nicely. It truly is well worth a go in my view.”

The final time Australia attempted such an audacious fightback was when Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath bowled out England for 121 on day five in Adelaide in 2006 (immediately after the tourists produced 6-551 in their first innings) and then won by 6 wickets.

The largest dilemma for Clarke, who will aim for a lead close to 200, is the tough and true Gabba pitch.

Clarke and Cowan doused a fired-up Dale Steyn and company with a record fourth-wicket stand against the Proteas of 259 with little difficulty and then Hussey joined in to set up the victory tilt with a late-day run spurt exactly where Australia peeled off their final a hundred runs from as a lot of balls.

There was very little sideways movement, either off the pitch of via the air, and the travelers, who used eight bowlers, were left to rue their decision to omit leg-spinner Imran Tahir.

“It truly is a great pitch,” stated amazed South African bowling coach Allan Donald. “I reckon after tomorrow we could almost certainly perform an additional three days on it – which is the positive from a batting viewpoint.”

The Proteas did shoot themselves in the foot with two Morne Morkel no-balls stopping catches behind, and Steyn and Jacques Rudolph virtually colliding prior to a dropped catch, as effectively as the two missing run-out odds.

But the story of the day was Clarke whose third 200-additionally score of the year gave him 1000 runs precisely for 2012 at a Bradman-like common of 111.

Because taking the Australian captaincy from Ponting last yr, he’s averaging 68.

The 31-yr-outdated felt the run glut was coincidental but admitted, right after hitting 23 boundaries in eight hrs, he was now far more mentally attuned to batting lengthier.

“What I’m probably undertaking now is when I’m finding in I am cashing in,” he explained. “I’ve had a whole lot of starts early on in my profession and thrown my wicket away in the 60s and 70s,” Clarke stated.

Rookie Matthew Wade has vowed to carry on the Australian cricket tradition of combative and lippy wicketkeepers undertaking all they can to win.

Following in the footsteps of glovemen like Wally Grout, Rod Marsh and Ian Healy, Wade says he’ll consider the battle up to opponents with his perform and with his speak.

Regardless of being just 24, the feisty Victorian took small time to rip into opposing batsmen in his debut Test and 1-day series this year.

For that there is no apologies, and he’ll carry on on in the same vein towards the world No.1-ranked South Africans when their 3-Test series starts on Friday at the Gabba.

“I’ll do whatever it requires to win so which is how I want to be remembered when I finish,” stated Wade, who scored a essential 106 in his last Test towards the West Indies to save Australia and retain his place ahead of Brad Haddin.

“To me it really is not about your typical and what you have accomplished stats-smart. To me it is about winning games for Australia.

“Stats don’t inform you when you’ve created your runs and in what predicament.

“I adore the contest. That’s what cricket is all about. A bloke is bowling 150km/h at you and making an attempt to get you out and you are making an attempt to counter that.”

Wade will put on a protective guard on thumb in his first Test on home soil following copping a knock in final week’s Sheffield Shield game at the MCG.

He’s relishing the chance to keep on the quick and bouncy Gabba pitch exactly where keepers and the slips cordon are generally amid the action.

Whilst Wade is pumped about a Brisbane Check, he’s just as thrilled about what Victorian teammate James Pattinson can make at the Gabba.

Young speedster Pattinson is in leading form right after ripping via Queensland’s batting for 6-32 in a fearsome Shield spell at the Gabba last month, which was followed up by 4-42 towards Western Australia at the MCG final week.

“He bowled speedy at the G and he bowled quick right here,” Wade stated.

“As soon as he will get it correct he can bowl high-140s.

“I hope he has a quite huge influence but he’s got that capability to go by way of any team.”

Golden Slipper winner Pierro has been backed into red figures to proceed two winning streaks in his return to racing at Rosehill on Saturday.

The glamour colt firmed from $ 2.20 to $ 1.80 on Friday for the Group Three Run To The Rose (1200m) as he strives to sustain an unbeaten record while making an attempt to grow to be the seventh successive favourite to win the classic lead-up race to the $ one million Golden Rose.

“Pierro is responsible for 85 per cent of all money invested on the race,” TAB Sportsbet’s Glenn Munsie explained.

A sequence of favourites winning the Run To The Rose started in 2006 with Mentality ($ four.60) and continued with El Cambio ($ 3.twenty), Desuetude ($ 2.35), Denman ($ three.70), Squamosa ($ two.60) and final year’s winner Smart Missile ($ 1.70).

The Run To The Rose will be Pierro’s first commence since he claimed the coveted two-year-old triple crown which embraces the Golden Slipper, Sires’ Create Stakes and Champagne Stakes throughout the Sydney autumn carnival.

Waterhouse bided her time before choosing on a comeback race for the star youngster, who has won 6 from 6, and punters have echoed her self-confidence with Pierro the only Run To The Rose runner to firm from an opening quote.

The Randwick trainer explained it was crucial to locate the correct first-up race for Pierro simply because she was focused on winning the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate.

She mentioned she waited till Pierro showed a sign he was ready to race before committing him to a Run To The Rose start off.

“With him I have got quite significantly a strategy in mind which is the Guineas and hopefully the Cox Plate and I desired to make sure the starting race was virtually as important,” Waterhouse mentioned.

“If I was to give him a gut-wrencher, something that’s actually tough and affects him, it will have an effect on him in individuals key races.”

The Run To The Rose attributes a return clash with yet another boom colt in All As well Challenging, who holds down 2nd favouritism at $ 2.70 immediately after opening at $ two.50.

Pierro defeated All Also Hard in the Sires’ Generate Stakes in the only meeting of their substantial-profile careers.

“Most of the income for All Also Challenging has come nowadays. There was absolutely nothing really for him prior to today,” Munsie mentioned.

“And we can’t write one more runner’s name.”

Andy Murray has sent British enthusiasts into a frenzy as Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic set up a Wimbledon semi-last showstopper on an electrifying day at the All England Club.

Striving to finish Britain’s 76-year men’s grand slam title drought, Murray recovered from a set and service break down to move into the semi-finals with a stirring 6-7 (five-7) 7-six (eight-6) 6-four 7-six (7-4) victory in excess of globe No.five David Ferrer.

The Scottish Braveheart will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Friday for a spot in Sunday’s championship match immediately after the French fifth seed crunched 43 winners and 17 aces to oust German Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 (7-5) four-six 7-six (7-3) six-two.

Even though Federer and Djokovic, each and every in straight-set routs, and Tsonga cruised, Murray had to pull out all stops to move to inside of a match of turning into the initial British guy to make the Wimbledon last since 1938.

All up, Murray had to battle off ten break points to hold his dream alive right after three hrs and 52 stress-filled minutes – plus an anxious half-hour rain delay at five-five in the final set.

The massive residence hope was on the brink at a set down and then five-2 behind in the pivotal second-set tiebreaker.

“It was a really hard match, a extended match, a good deal of tight moments,” fourth-seeded Murray said.

Federer earlier had the celebrity-filled royal box in raptures with his spellbinding 6-1 6-2 six-2 quarter-last win more than Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Rod Laver and the initial couple of tennis, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, have been amongst the dazzled dignitaries handled to a majestic show from Federer.

“I feel it helps when royalty shows up and other legends of the game see me play,” Federer explained.

“It is inspiring.”

So utterly dominant in simple fact that his vanquished opponent at one particular stage turned to the royal box and sought assistance from the fantastic Agassi.

“What do I have to do here?” Youzhny shrugged.

But the Russian was utterly powerless to quit the 16-occasions key winner from inflicting a 14th defeat from 14 encounters with his occupation contemporary.

Prince William and Kate had been also suitably impressed as Federer set nevertheless one more record that could stand the test of time.

The 30-year-old surpassed Jimmy Connors for most grand slam semi-final appearances immediately after qualifying for the 33rd of his incomparable occupation.

Now Djokovic stands in his way of the tantalising possibility to join Pete Sampras with seven titles at the All England Club right after seeing off German Florian Mayer six-four six-one 6-four to verify his 11th grand slam appointment with the Swiss master.

And providing their semi-last an further edge, really should he win and then lift the trophy on Sunday, Federer would also supplant Djokovic as world No.one and equal Sampras’s all-time record of 286 total weeks atop the rankings.

“Naturally it’s a huge deal. No denying,” Federer explained.

Federer will be the sentimental favourite on Friday, but 25-year-old Djokovic holds a clear edge more than his senior rival in recent grand slam meetings.

Though the Serb trails Federer 14-12 head-to-head all round, Djokovic has had his measure in four of their previous 5 grand slam showdowns, which includes in straight sets at final month’s French Open on clay.

But the two tennis titans have never ever previously clashed on grass.

“We do not know quite what to count on,” Federer explained.

“I feel it truly is a bit of an even ground. You have to inquire him. I feel very good about the match. I’m thrilled.”

True to her word, Samantha Stosur has clubbed her way into the 2nd round at Wimbledon with a straight-sets demolition of Carla Suarez Navarro.

The US Open champion was all-out assault as she pasted 19 clean winners in an extraordinary 6-one six-three victory more than Spain’s outclassed planet No.40.

The overdue win was Stosur’s first in 3 many years at the All England Club after bowing out in the opening round in her past two disappointing campaigns.

It was a vastly improved exhibiting from her 1st-round reduction final week to world No.251 Kirsten Flipkins in the Netherlands.

“It was possibly a single of the greatest matches I’ve played on grass in current years, so that is a good feeling,” Stosur explained.

The fifth seed up coming faces talented Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus on Wednesday for a spot in the 3rd round for only the 2nd time in ten Wimbledon campaigns.

Her draw this year is a favourable one particular and, if she can get via her next outing, Stosur’s very first seeded challenge is probably to come from Russian Maria Kirilenko in round 3 on Friday.

China’s ninth seed Li Na, who thrashed Kazakhstan’s Ksenia Pervak 6-3 6-1 in her opener on Monday, is scheduled to face Stosur in the last 16.

But with her track round at SW19 the second week is even now a globe away for the French Open semi-finalist.

“I’ve had a bit of a search (at the draw), but I undoubtedly never look also far ahead at this tournament,” Stosur said.

“Following one’s subsequent.”

Stosur has struggled to make clear her poor record on the Wimbledon grass over the years and wasn’t about to die asking yourself on Monday following an inexplicable reduction final year to globe No.262 Melinda Czink.

The Australian came out swinging and was up five- within twenty minutes.

Suarez Navarro averted a dreaded bagel just before Stosur seized the opening set with a brutal off-forehand winner.

There was hardly any allow-up in the second, with Stosur bludgeoning her way to an early break for a two- benefit.

Out of nowhere, Suarez Navarro broke back in the third game when Stosur was caught off balance and netted an awkward backhand.

But it was Stosur’s only lapse as she claimed two more breaks to wrap up the match in 1 hour and two minutes.

The globe No.five dropped only 12 points on serve, whilst her 19 winners more than offset 11 unforced problems in her bold new roll-the-dice strategy to grasscourt tennis.

Samantha Stosur has enhanced her reputation as the best front-runner in women’s tennis with a commanding French Open quarter-last triumph over Dominika Cibulkova.

Stosur continued her authoritative march by means of the draw with a 6-4 6-one disposal of the 15th seed to reach the semi-finals in Paris for the 3rd time in 4 many years.

The US Open champion will face Sara Errani on Thursday for a spot in Saturday’s title match immediately after the in-form Italian downed German 10th seed Angelique Kerber 6-3 7-six (7-2) in an equally extraordinary quarter-final showing.

“I’m very, quite pleased with the way I played these days and to get by means of,” Stosur mentioned.

“She runs quite fast, she’s got rapid legs, likes to be aggressive and hit that forehand so you’ve got to make sure you hit the proper shots at the proper time.

“The final handful of many years have been quite great to me in Paris. I love playing on this court and it does not get any greater than this.”

Stosur’s extensive victory extended her phenomenal unbeaten record of never ever obtaining lost a grand slam match following winning the initial set.

The sixth seed is a best 49 from 49 following winning the opening set at majors and, as the only lady in the tournament nevertheless to drop a set this campaign, will be a warm favourite to consider down Errani in the semi-finals.

“That is a wonderful stat to have, but you also want to have this when you lose the very first set – you want to come back, too,” Stosur said.

“It just shows that I try to get off to a good start off each time achievable and, when I do that, I can genuinely impose my play on the opponent.

“It really is obviously difficult for them to attempt and beat me if you seem at that stat.

“So I guess it really is a wonderful thing to have in the back of your head.”

No doubt in the back of Errani’s head will be the dreaded stat that she has lost all five preceding meetings with Stosur, such as in straight sets final month on clay in Rome.

Cibulkova had upset world No.one Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round and produced the semi-finals in Paris 3 years ago – but Stosur simply had also several weapons for the diminutive Slovak.

Playing with managed aggression, Stosur grabbed the first service break of the match in the fifth game as Cibulkova’s defensive moonballing techniques backfired.

Stosur wobbled trying to serve out the set at five-two, but held her nerve to stave off 3 more break-back points in the 10th game to pocket the opening set with a scorching backhand winner that caught the line.

The planet No.6 recovered from adore-40 down in the opening game of the 2nd set to hold and then rifled a backhand down the line to break Cibulkova once again to go up two-one.

The end was nigh for Cibulkova when Stosur nabbed a double break with two big forehands to charge to a 4-one advantage.

The Australian broke Cibulkova again to close out the quarter-last in one hour and 25 minutes for her 18th win from 22 claycourt matches in 2012.

  Have your say on the Blues side.

Penrith prop Tim Grant is the surprise inclusion in a bulked-up NSW State of Origin side that will attempt to degree the series in up coming week’s game two at ANZ Stadium.

The inclusion of Grant in the beginning line-up – with skipper Paul Gallen moving back to lock – was one particular of two changes made by Blues coach Ricky Stuart, with Manly’s Anthony Watmough also recalled right after becoming controversially overlooked for the series opener.

Injured Sea Eagle Tony Williams (back) was unavailable, whilst Manly utility Jamie Buhrer was dropped immediately after generating small influence in the 18-ten loss in Melbourne.

Buhrer could yet have a role to play nonetheless with Watmough under an injury cloud, the Sea Eagles back-rower to have an injection in his troublesome shoulder on Monday in a bid to make sure he’s right for Wednesday week’s match.

“He’s got a couple of vertebrae that are inflamed … this will be a possibility to genuinely speed up the recovery portion of the neural difficulty that he’s got,” Stuart stated.

“He’ll miss some sessions early in the piece … speaking to Choc, he’s got no dramas about getting correct for the game.”

The inclusion of 24-year-old Grant – who has played just six games this year due to a calf dilemma – offers the Blues a monster commencing pack with James Tamou alongside him in the front row, with Gallen’s shift to lock permitting Stuart the luxury of giving his captain a breather at some stage of the match.

The Blues want to win game two if they are to stay away from a seventh straight series loss.

Queensland will announce their side on Tuesday.

New South Wales: Brett Stewart, Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Akuila Uate, Todd Carney, Mitchell Pearce, Tim Grant, Robbie Farah, James Tamou, Glenn Stewart, Greg Bird, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Trent Merrin, Luke Lewis, Ben Creagh, Anthony Watmough

Does Tim Grant deserve a run in the front row for New South Wales?
Was Jamie Buhrer unlucky to drop his spot on the bench?
Who would have been in your Blues side?

Todd Carney has declared himself all set for State of Origin following helping Cronulla to a twelve- NRL gain above local rivals St George Illawarra at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.

The Sharks five-eighth outshone incumbent NSW No.six Jamie Soward with a overall performance that was assured in attack and exceptional in defence as the Sharks held the Dragons scoreless for the very first time since 1973.

Carney transformed tries in either 50 percent from John Morris and Wade Graham to elevate his aspect into a top rated-4 spot for the very first time since 2008, ironically the last time the joint enterprise failed to problems the scorers towards any NRL staff.

“I undoubtedly want to be there for Origin. I have wished to at any time considering that I started in 1st grade when I was eighteen,” Carney said.

“There is certainly been opportunities when I could have been there and I experience I am all set for it and I just want to put my hand up and give it a crack.

“It would be a massive tick for me and a pat on the back again for me if I get a get in touch with, but there are plenty of other blokes in the combine who are actively playing good footy.”

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan was happy with Carney’s screen, but was eager to lavish praise on his side’s excellent defensive functionality, as they secured a fourth successive victory.

“We gave them a lot of opportunities to have a crack at us but they ended up courageous and courageous and can not wrap them sufficient,” Flanagan said.

“But it’s a extended season and I never want to get too energized, but we are heading in the proper direction that is for confident.”

Cronulla’s unforgettable night was tainted by a time-ending injuries to fullback Nathan Gardner, who also loved a good display, efficiently fielding several high balls from the boot of Soward.

The former Parramatta junior, crumpled in a heap on the ultimate play of the sport immediately after he stepped off his left foot. He was right away carried from the area with a suspected ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

“He is fairly distressed in there, but he’ll have scans tomorrow, but it seems to be like he is completed his knee,” Flanagan explained.

Dragons coach Steve Cost slammed his players’ poor execution as they failed to acquire gain of massive durations of possession to sink to defeat at Toyota Stadium for the next successive season.

“It tends to make it quite challenging when you make five glitches on initial deal with,” Price said.

“Our execution at moments was fairly bad, but I have said to the guys in there our energy was remarkable.

“We’ve obtained a bit of perform to do but I am sure we will repair it.”

The Dragons seemed to have pulled a consider back again with 14 minutes remaining, which would have set up a grandstand complete, but video referee Russell Smith dominated that Jason Nightingale’s still left foot had brushed the touchline as he scored.

“It was difficult that one particular. The video ref manufactured that decision, but it was tough to see if he was on the line or not,” Price mentioned.